Youth National Team Update: Feb. 23 - March 1

NewsMar 1, 2004

– U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS UPDATE –

U-20 MNT FINISH SECOND CAMP OF 2004, GO 0-2-1 AGAINST MLS CLUBS: The U.S. Under-20s fell 1-0 to the Columbus Crew last Thursday (Feb. 26) to cap off a week-long training camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. During the second camp of the year for the U-20s, Thomas Rongen’s team played two other matches, falling to the Colorado Rapids 6-1 (Feb. 24) and tying the Crew 2-2 in an earlier match (Feb. 22). After Columbus took the lead on a goal by Jeff Cunningham, the U.S. had its chances to tie, but couldn't find the back of the net. George Weah, Jr., who scored the tying goal against the Crew in their first match of the week, almost scored his second goal with the U-20s a few minutes after coming on for Jamie Watson. Chad Barrett served in a perfect cross to Weah who had gotten free from his marker, but he shot was off target. In the first match with the Crew on Feb. 22, the Under-20s took the lead in the third minute after Barrett received a through ball from Christian Jimenez, got behind the Columbus defense and slotted home his shot past a diving Matt Haefner. Columbus bounced back to take the lead with two goals in four minutes, getting one right before the half from Ross Paule in the 44th minute and the other two minutes into the second half from Jamal Sutton. The U.S. forced the draw in the 74th minute when Watson’s cross found Weah, Jr, who beat Haefner, who was out of position after attempting to clear the service. Two days later, the U-20s struggled against a superior Colorado Rapids squad that played extremely well and scored four goals in the first half en route to a 6-1 victory. Former U-17 MNT forward Jordan Cila paced the Rapids with two goals, while David Castellanos, Chris Henderson, John Spencer and Zach Kingsley each added one. The lone goal for the U.S. came from midfielder Mariano Arrua in the 63rd minute after the Rapids had taken a 5-0 lead. The goal started as Danny Szetela dribbled down the right wing and found Watson near the six-yard box, who hit a one-timer on goal that ‘keeper Scott Vallow got a piece of. Vallow’s save deflected off the post and landed to the feet of Arrua, who easily knocked the ball into the net.U-20 MNT ResultsDate Opponent Result U.S. Goal ScorersFeb. 22 Columbus Crew 2-2 T Barrett, Weah, Jr.Feb. 24 Colorado Rapids 1-6 L ArruaFeb. 26 Columbus Crew 0-1 L ---

U-17 ’87 MNT PICKS UP WINS AGAINST CLEMSON, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: The U.S. Under-17 ’87 Men’s National Team defeated the University of Clemson 5-0 and the College of Charleston 1-0 this past Saturday (Feb. 28) at Frederica Academy in St. Simon’s, Ga. The U-17s first match against the College of Charleston was a defensive battle as only six shots were taken between both teams. While the U.S. only had two shots on goal, one of those two provided the game winner as midfielder Danny Szetela’s 25-yard bending free kick in the 15th minute found the upper corner of the left post and gave the Under-17s their first of two victories on the day. Forward Freddy Adu, fresh off his first training camp with D.C. United, led the way against Clemson, scoring a hat trick just 22 minutes into the match. Adu knocked home his first goal of the game in the seventh minute after collecting a cross from midfielder Christian Jimenez on the right endline, dribbling diagonally towards the middle of the box and then bending the ball to the far left post past former U-17 MNT starting goalkeeper Phil Marfuggi. The U-17s second goal came in the 16th minute from an Adu penalty after defender Nathan Sturgis, who will be attending Clemson next year, dribbled through four defenders before getting taken down in the box. Adu’s final goal was six minutes later when defender Tim Ward sent a long ball from the U.S. penalty area, releasing Adu for a breakaway starting at midfield and finishing with him cooly pushing it past Marfuggi. Adu also registered an assist as his corner kick in the 53rd minute was knocked in by Alandus Brooks’ half volley at the far post. Brett King finished off the Tigers, scoring an unassisted goal in the 71st minute. The U-17 '87s have one match this week as they will face the University of Tampa on Wednesday (March 3) at IMG Academy.U-17 ‘87 MNT ResultsDate Opponent Result U.S. Goal ScorersFeb. 28 College of Charleston 1-0 W SzetelaFeb. 28 Clemson University 5-0 W Adu (3), Brooks, KingU-17 ‘87 MNT ScheduleDate OpponentMarch 3 Univ. of Tampa

FOUR YNTs WILL TRAVEL TO BRADENTON, FLA., FOR WEEK-LONG TRAINING CAMPS: Four of U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams will arrive in Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday (March 6) to kick off a week-long training camp at the IMG Academy. The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team, Under-15 Boys National Team, Under-17 Women’s National Team and Under-16 Girls National Team will all train for the week and play matches against college teams, national teams and each other. The U-18 MNT will play three matches during their camp, as Bob Jenkins squad will face Notre Dame (March 9), Virginia (March 10) and the U-17 MNT (March 11). The U-15 BNT will play the U-17 MNT twice (March 9 and 11) and the Boca Juniors, a local club team, on March 13. The U-17 WNT and U-16 GNT will face each other on March 11 between games against the German and Canadian U-17 National Teams (March 9 and 12). Following are schedules for all four teams:U-18 MNT ScheduleDate OpponentMarch 9 Notre Dame UniversityMarch 10 University of VirginiaMarch 11 U-17 MNTU-15 BNT ScheduleDate OpponentMarch 9 U-17 MNTMarch 11 U-17 MNTMarch 13 Boca JuniorsU-17 WNT ScheduleDate OpponentMarch 9 Canada U-17March 11 U-17 WNTMarch 12 Germany U-17U-16 GNT ScheduleDate OpponentMarch 9 Germany U-17March 11 U-17 WNTMarch 12 Canada U-17

U-19 WNT AND NEW U-15 GIRLS TO HOLD CAMPS AT NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER: The U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team and the newly created U.S. Under-15 Girls Developmental National Team will conduct week-long training camps at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., this week. U-19 WNT head coach Mark Krikorian, who recently took over for current full Women’s National team assistant coach Tracy Leone, will continue to develop the core of the team that will enter CONCACAF Qualifying in May for the 2004 U-19 Women's Youth Championship, to be held November 10-27 in Thailand. The U-19s will likely play a couple matches against college teams or local clubs, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. This will be the first camp for the newly created Under-15 Girls, a team that was created to identify pre-high school standouts and prepare players for the Under-19 and Under-21 Women’s National Teams.